The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-02-25
A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER.

A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER.
1t was great day in Milltown, for
that evening the new pastor and his
wife were expected to arrive, and
would be installed in their home by q
solemn reception and supper.
All day the good matrons and maids
of the congregation had been busiy
engaged in arranging the parsonage,
loading down the tables with delicacies,
and filling the pantry with substantial
stores, by way OF a helpful beginning
to the clerical ouse-keepiug.
And now, about three o'clock in the
afternoon, a group OF them were rest
ing from their labors and indulging in
q bit of social chat before returning
home to FIX themselves" for the re-
ception OF the pastor.
"lt does look nice enough, said Mrs.
Groby, casting her eye critically over
the pantry shelves and toward the
table in the adjoining room. II hope
the parson and his wife will like it"
"She'll be one OF the hard to please
sort if she DON'T" responded old Mrs.
Hurd-for in all my experience I've
never, to my knowledge, set eyes on a
rompleter layout. Why, there's,
everything here that u body could
think OF for beginning, even down to
the bakin' powders and salt-sack."
81 must say" put in Mrs. Mar able,
another old lady, "that the folks has
come down very handsome and free
handed, considerin' that none OF EN-
are over-rich" with q little,
chuckling laugh. "Why, even
Mrs. Fowler, that poor woman
who came here not over six
months ago with two little children.
to try to make allving by going round
to help sew and work in families
even she sent loaf OF bread-and
very fine bread it is, too"
Poor thing They say her hua-
bands deserted her." said Miss Han
nah Nixon, with an expression of half.
contemptuous pity. ~ don't see
what some people get married for.
For my part, I've always set my face
against marriage"
There was momentary dead pause.
Young Mrs. Groby, WHO was devot-
ed to her husband, looked up, with a
sudden tightening Of her dark eyes,
and Mrs. Marable, seeing the threat
ened danger, hastened to interpose.
"It strikes me-" she said, as with a
sudden recollection, that there's one
thing we've forgotten. Jemima Pow
lett, who knew the minister where
they come from, said he and his wife
were very fond OF honey. She likes it
with short-cake, SAID he thinks it does
deal OF good to throat and voice.
She Gays he always took glass OF
warm milk, mixed with a little honey,
before preaching"
Honey Why, that's thevery thing
Mrs. Lamkin was a-speakin' OF to-
day!" said old Mrs. Hurd, with ami
nation. "We'd none OF us
ever thought of such u thing
as honey, when OF sudden she
said that she had corrle of bee
hives, and had jest strained off lot of
beautiful honey, and promised to
bring over a glass jar full this evening"
"She does make beautiful honey.
I've seen it on her table, and must say
l never set eyes on any clearer nor
handsomer. lisa pity, though that
Mr.. Lamkin can't be here to help well
come the parson, and he one OF the
pillars of the church. / was over there
this morning and found him down
with the rheumatism, and a tramp
that happened to be passing called
in to cut wood and tend to the horses" "
"a tramp! Well, | make pint
never to have anything to do with
tramps," said Mrs. Hurd, dogmat
icaliy.
80 do T." continued Mrs. Marable
II said to her, Ann Maria Lamkin
do You know what you're risking il
receiving strange man into youi
house? Hemay bean escaped convict
or something worse; and you've tolG
me yourself that it was only yester
day Tom went to the bank in Harri
son to get one hundred dollars to pay
on that land he's bought from
Tompkins.' :"
Good gracious?" gasped Miss Han
nah Nixon. "Did you ever' AnC
what did she say?"
"Well, thought she looked a leetle
uneasy, though she did try to make
light OF it. She said the man was 6
very decent-looking body, though re
served; and that though her husband
wasn't well enough to go out OF doors
he could easily take care OF the house
But. law sakes" with glance at tn,
clock-"if it amt getting on to half
past four, and me setting gossipinI
here as if there was nothing more OF
earth to be done!"
And then the good ladies separated
and as news will spread itself in s
small place, it soon became known tt
most OF the community that Ton
! Lamkin was down with another "fi
one hundred dollars in th
| house. and that u suspicious
| looking tramp was on the place. VIII,
had very probably been i'll Harristol
when the money wns taken from tn
bank, and knew something about 1t.
"lt lies on my conscience" said oil
Deacon Hurd when at 60 clock punct
ually they all met at the parsonage
prepared welcome the new pastor
lit does lie on my conscience to thinl
of our leaving Brother Lamkin in
situation SO doubtful, and, it may be
dangerous, Has anybody seen any
thing OF Sister Lamkin?"
! Mrs. Lamkin had not arrived, ont
she being generally the soul of punctu
! ality, this circumstance alone excited
/, sop,a peesinesS
i "The I.nmkin homestead's prett,
lonesome place" suggested onegloom
lily.
"Who knows but that they may b
murdered by this time2" nervously in
! quired another. There's hardly
day when look over my newspaper
that don't see something OF the kim
recorded. In my opinion there ough
| to be law against tramps."
/ aSome O. the boys are jest settin
off to meet the parson at the lowe
ford, said the deacon, solepanly
q ms it mayn't be amiss for then
I'm at tlAs n ,;;ins I7nd y